Pampanga’s Flooding—A Lesson on Initiative

PAMPANGA—the province, including all its first class municipalities like Angeles & San Fernando, was recently battered with unprecedented flooding brought about by habagat or monsoon rains on August 12. San Fernando including 15 barangays were submerged in flood water of up to 1 meter high. This spelled aversion for those with properties for sale in Pampanga.

Aerial Photo of San Fernando [nabaha.com c/o Google Maps]

Some areas in San Fernando started flooding since August 12 but water levels never peaked until five days after on August 17. Other waterlogged cities include Mexico, Masantol, and Guagua , but it was not torrential rains alone that caused the flooding, three mayors of different cities feuded over issues regarding water spill prevention.

However, few areas in Barangay Del Carmen in San Fernando remained accessible and passable. This is mostly owing to the fact that some of these areas, like pictured below, have been engineered to resist rising water levels .

In the photo, the yellow highlighted areas indicate where flooding is to be expected in the next 100 years. Among those areas that are flood-free are areas like the Pueblo de Oro communities, Quebiawan, and the SM City and Robinsons Starmills proper. When it comes to investing in houses and lots for sale in Pampanga, and other places in the Philippines , One needs to research the location, especially on how well the property can withstand and respond to natural calamities. This little act could be your game changer and life saver.

The last rains have affected some 4000 + families and displaced 300 and more of them to evacuation centers. It’s one thing to be at the mercy of nature and another to be at the heel of poor community planning.

As of writing, rains have partially stopped as the habagat subsides. We can only relay on future projects by responsible developers to protect our properties, house & lot, livelihood that are for sale. For major cities like San Fernando, Pampanga and Manila, this could be a step towards economic growth.